If the hospital said nothing about shaving, then don't bother, they will
take care of it.

For my standard RRP, they even took care of that after putting me under.

I believe you will find that they only shave a stripe on your belly.

Hope you can fill all four bags of blood.  I failed at that.

jimhoney

My doc put me on iron for those four weeks.

They shaved me from nipples to pubic bone.  Almost all my genital hair
survived.

My RP was 5 weeks ago today (and wow, time files!!!)   "They" shaved the area
to suit their needs - I didn't have to do a thing.

My only 'complaint' about the area they shaved,,, it itches like hell when it
starts to grow back in - but in the big scheme of things,,,   who cares?   LOL

Rus
Massachusetts

Dave you're getting yourself all wrapped around the axle on this.  Don't
worry about such stuff.  Relax, it'll be over in a blink of the eye and
you will be home taking it easy for a few days.

For me it went very well, much better than I thought.  Like you I had
all kinds of things going thru my mind, but it was all over reaction on
my part.

You will do fine.

Dale J.

Dave,
It has been only 3 weeks since my RRP and believe me, they will shave
you. I was already under anethesia when they did it because I never saw
it happen. They will also bathe you in betadine (most of which is
cleaned up by the time you get to recovery). My hair is slowly coming
back in now. They shaved me from my navel to the top of my penis - a
swath about 4 inches wide. The incision is still a bit sore but nothing
that isn't bearable. I look like I had a zipper installed when I look in
the mirror - or more like what you see on a football without the laces
in place....

I gave just two units of autologous blood. And that was only 5 days
apart. The Uro said I lost about 2 liters of blood during the operation
and they replaced one from my donations during surgery and because I was
a bit slow in coming out at recovery, they replaced the 2nd unit in
recovery to help me over the nausea etc I was experiencing.

And I don't remember a damn thing...not a dream of any sorts. They gave
me some kind of I.V. helper (Demerol or some such drug) and I don't even
remember entering the operating room....the next thing I know, I am in
recovery.....And it was not too painful! I only had to hit the morphine
a few times to keep myself comfortable - enough to sleep.

You'll do fine...just hang in there!

Best Regards,
Philski

Dave,

Don't bother the shave. I asked the prep doctor and he said "don't", because
if you nick yourself or create a rash, it may cause the operation to be
postponed. And, really you wont know a thing about it... I was shaved from
belly button to pubic bone sometime after I was "out", a swat about 8 inches
wide. One last thing, don't get all worked up about it, the worst you'll
feel is what you are feeling right now, anxiety. You won't know a thing
about it and after you wake up (it'll be like no time has elapsed) you'll
improve 100% from day to day....

Well group, I had my first blood draw on Feb 3 and will be checking in with
uro on Feb 16 for my first post op psa report; and really, this is much
harder on the nerves than waiting for the operation, Nov 4, 2003. Again
thanks to all here for making the going through this much easier than
"standing alone".

Sosep

Hey,  You are on the right path, relax, walk, and walk, and walk...I mean
it!
Do your blood thing.  I ate lots of raisins, and bran...They took 2 "big
bags" yeoh....
Start the stopping and the starting of urine flow.  On , off, On off, and
then 500 times again...
Don't worry a bit about haircut.....last of your worry!
The most you want to see is the Hospital in the rear view mirror!~
Other than that, keep clean with cath, and walk..........
When my catheter came out......I expected a flood of trouble.
Came with Depends too!
Funny, I never did leak a drop but maybe a drip......
The drip she went away....
Oh, I still walk/run,  4 miles when work allows...
Best thing I ever did, that is , walk /run.
Good wishes, and may I have been lucky, who knows?
Walking does not hurt.
Your friend, John Loomis
A survivor.....1999 surgery, RP @ 49.

all 0.01 or less,
Waiting for year # 4 psa
GOOD WISHES

A nice gentleman shaved me before I went into the surg prep area, so I
chatted with him the whole time. I'm pretty hairy, and he struggled for
about 10 minutes with mustache-type electric clippers that clogged up a
lot. I wound up with a completely bare abdomen from bellybutton to pubic
bone. Not a big problem if they think they should do it, but I think I
could have done a better job.

The thing I wish I'd done is trimming up around the scrotal area. because it
was pretty long, and sometimes got tangled up around the catheter where it
went into the penis. Not good at all. I trimmed up after I got home.

With radiation you don't have to worry about shaving.
The xrays just burn it off.

  Alan

Hello Dave:
  I went on the web and found a velcro device to hold the foley tube.
Most guys shave the thigh where tape would otherwise go to hold the
tubing.  The thing cost me ten bucks or so and I think it was worth
it.  If memory serves it was manufactured by "Dale Products", or
something like that.  
  Good luck on the surgery and recovery.
  Thank you.
David S.